Lily Schultz hit a grand slam in the top of the fifth inning of Thursday’s WIAA Division 3 Sectional Final at Taylor Park in Rosendale.
The big hit was just one of many for the Laconia Spartans in a 16-0 blowout win against Shoreland Lutheran to punch their ticket to state.
"I've been saying this since the beginning of the year that Lily is the real deal," coach Scott Ritzema said. "She's been hitting the ball great, she's great in the circle and she's very mature for a freshman, especially coming in at this level."
Schultz finished with the home run, a double and five RBIs. She scored both times she got a hit.
Laconia (20-8) scored two runs before Shoreland was even able to record an out in the game.
The Spartans’ offense poured it on early against the Pacers (13-6), including three runs in the first.
Laconia was the away team because it lost the coin flip before the game. Ritzema said what is usually a negative turned out to benefit his team.
"One of our assistant coaches said, 'That's alright, we bat first against Lomira, we bat first against Mayville, we might as well bat first on our own field and start out hot,'" Ritzema said. "That's what we did. We started rolling early and we continued all the way through.
"That's what I was hoping for my girls, and they showed up in a big way."
Senior Addison Maurer’s bat was red hot, for she was 4-for-4 with three doubles and three RBIs, including two in a five-run second inning.
During that second inning, senior first baseman Callista Vande Berg hit a long two-run home run to left field.
"You knew that was gone off the bat," Ritzema said.
Maurer matched her impressive offensive production with her performance in the circle. She tossed four shutout innings and struck out eight batters.
"Nobody ever expected us to go this far so this is crazy," Maurer said. "It's a surreal feeling and I'm just so thankful for my teammates, we've been playing really well together."
Schultz came in for the final inning and struck out four batters, for one reached on a dropped third strike.
Schultz, a freshman, said she has learned some of the keys to being successful over the course of the season.
"Mentality is the biggest thing in the game of softball," Schultz said. "If you don't have the right mentality, you're not going to do well. You have to believe in yourself and trust your teammates."
Laconia scored in four of the five innings. Emma Bohn hit a two-run double in the fourth inning.
Maurer said the team has momentum, which she attributed to the mentality that Schultz referenced.
"If you're down in the count, you got to keep your head up," Maurer said. "If you're going well then keep going, but you can never put your head down because that's the moment they take advantage of you.
"You've just got to keep pushing, the mentality is such a huge part."
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